Murderer stabbed man to death with 22cm knife before going back to pub

A murderer who stabbed a man to death with a 22cm knife during a brawl before going back to the pub covered in blood has been jailed for 25 years.

William Cosier, 34, from Canterbury, had visited the Queens Head public house in The Street, Boughton-under-Blean, on March 13, before tragedy struck.

A press release from Kent Police revealed that around 10:30pm, victim Adam Pritchard, 34, had entered the pub and made conversation with Cosier.

The conversation then escalated, becoming heated as the pair exchanged punches before Cosier raised a bar stool above his head which led to Pritchard walking outside.

'Cosier immediately went into the kitchen area and picked up a knife with a 22cm blade, despite a member of staff urging him to put it down,' police said.

'He returned to the bar where the other man was now standing outside the door and beckoning him to come out'.

Cosier followed Pritchard into the street while hiding the large weapon behind his back before attempting to launch an attack on the man, who was seen backing away.

At one point, Pritchard produced a BB gun which he fired towards Cosier. 

The pair continued fighting until they found themselves in the middle of the road, causing a minibus having to swerve around them.

'Mr Pritchard again backed away followed by Cosier and they grappled again before Cosier returned to the pub with bloodstains on his top and face,' police added.

Cosier then fled the scene in his white Mercedes which had been parked nearby, while Pritchard staggered towards the pub suffering from two stab wounds before two people placed him in a black Peugeot in an attempt to get him to hospital.

On the way to the hospital they spotted an ambulance which they flagged down and Pritchard was treated by a paramedic at the roadside.

But the medic's efforts proved unsuccessful as the victim was later confirmed deceased at the scene.

Attending officers searched Pritchard's Peugeot and seized the BB gun from the boot of the vehicle.

An investigation was commenced by detectives and, following enquiries to locate Cosier, he handed himself in at Canterbury Police Station on March 14.

Two days later the Crown Prosecution Service authorised a charge of murder against Cosier and he was also charged with possessing a knife in a public place. 

Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said: ‘Today’s sentencing will not bring Adam back, but I hope it offers some form of justice to his family, who have been left devasted by the events of that fateful night.

‘Cosier armed himself with a deadly weapon and instead of walking away from an altercation he used it to inflict fatal injuries which led to the death of a man with a young family.

‘Cosier is a violent man who chose to arm himself in order to cause as much injury as possible, despite Adam seen backing away several times.

‘He denied the charges and caused the family to endure a trial where they were subjected to listening to the full details and I’d like to commend their courage and dignity in how they conducted themselves throughout this case.’